Herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees. Leaves usually alternate, spiral, simple, untoothed, often with scattered glands on lower surface. Stipules absent. Inflorescence usually racemose. Flowers bisexual, bilateral symmetric, 5-merous, ovary superior, 2-locular. Fruits irregular dehiscent berried to winged.
General info
Distribution Worldwide, especially in the tropics, 950 species. Ecology in tropical forests usually present as small to large trees in closed forests, but some herbs prefer open habitats. Uses Timber, edible fruits and fragrant roots. Similar to Fabaceae but these have compound leaves and usually stipules, the ovaries are 1-locular. Trigoniaceae but these differ in more intense whitish lower leaf surfaces and 3-winged fruits.
Family description
Herbs, climbers, shrubs and trees.Leaves usually alternate, spiral, simple, untoothed, often with scattered glands on lower surface. Stipules absent.
Inflorescence usually racemose.
Flowers bisexual, bilateral symmetric, 5-merous, ovary superior, 2-locular.
Fruits irregular dehiscent berried to winged.
General info
Distribution Worldwide, especially in the tropics, 950 species.Ecology in tropical forests usually present as small to large trees in closed forests, but some herbs prefer open habitats.
Uses Timber, edible fruits and fragrant roots.
Similar to Fabaceae but these have compound leaves and usually stipules, the ovaries are 1-locular. Trigoniaceae but these differ in more intense whitish lower leaf surfaces and 3-winged fruits.
Treated genera
Polygalaceae.pdf